New 187km Pohorje–Kozjak Trail opens in Slovenia, offering extensive hiking experience

Slovenia is set to unveil the Pohorje–Kozjak Trail, a new long-distance hiking route designed to link the Pohorje and Kozjak mountain ranges in northeastern Slovenia. This ambitious trail, spanning 187 kilometers, has been recognized by the British BBC as one of the most desirable hiking trails.

The trail is meticulously divided into 20 stages, which hikers can complete over 11 to 15 days. For those seeking an extreme challenge, ultramarathon runner Robert Kereži plans to run the entire distance in approximately 34 hours, starting at the trail's opening ceremony. The route is crafted to offer an immersive experience of nature, culture, and recreation, winding through forests and past more than 100 significant natural and cultural sites.

Karmen Razlag from the Regional Development Agency Podravje – Maribor highlighted the agency's previous focus on developing cycling routes and transforming ski resorts into year-round recreational areas. This initiative led to the idea of a long-distance hiking trail to connect the similar yet distinct identities of the Pohorje and Kozjak ranges.

The Pohorje–Kozjak Trail is classified as a moderately demanding mountain path. It covers approximately 8,000 meters of elevation gain, with about 3,400 meters on Pohorje and the remainder on Kozjak. Notable points along the route include Mariborsko Pohorje, Rogla, Lovrenška jezera, Črni vrh, Kope, Košenjak, and the Šumik Primeval Forest with its Mali and Veliki Šumik waterfalls, as well as Črno and Ribniško lakes. The trail also connects numerous mountain huts, viewpoints, and picturesque locations offering views of the surrounding landscape and even the Alps.

The first 10 stages cover 85 kilometers on Pohorje, requiring about 27 hours of hiking, while the remaining 10 stages traverse Kozjak for 102 kilometers, taking approximately 36 hours. Local hiking clubs have verified and marked the existing paths, ensuring clear navigation with over 150 directional signs and 1,200 trail markers.

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Then hiking came, and so we came up with the idea of a long-distance hiking trail, with which we would connect the two mountain ranges, which are similar in their own way, and at the same time each has its own identity.